As an American, you may feel apprehensive about Mamdani’s election as New York’s next mayor. As a Christian, though, you see things differently. You have an opportunity to reach Muslims with the gospel of Jesus Christ, a message even the gates of Hell cannot prevail against—no matter who gets elected.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen Muslims hijacked four airplanes and used them as missiles in a terrorist attack against the United States. They targeted and destroyed the World Trade Center buildings in New York City, killing 2,753 innocent civilians. Now, nearly 25 years later, the same city elected Zohran Mamdani—a Muslim—as its next mayor.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many Americans viewed Muslims as the enemy. Now, New Yorkers have voted for a Muslim to lead their city. Note the vast change in American sentiment about Muslims. The pendulum has swung to the other side.

The election raises a concern for many of us as Americans, but it offers a tremendous opportunity for us as Christians. First, the concern.

It’s not surprising that many Americans are troubled about seeing a Muslim rise to power in a prominent American city to the cheers of Muslims in America and throughout the world. Islam does not separate its religious and political ideology. It’s one and the same. Islamic rulers throughout history have routinely incorporated religious ideology in their jurisdiction. There’s no reason to think they wouldn’t try to do the same in the United States. Even if Mamdani has no stated aspirations to implement religious ideology, it’s likely that other Muslims who rise to power will.

Muslims are candid about their beliefs and their plans. There is no hidden agenda. According to Islamic jurisprudence, they divide the world into two houses: Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb. Dar al-Islam is the “house of Islam” or “house of peace.” The lands in these regions have been subjugated to Allah and Islamic authority. Muslims can practice their faith freely, and sharia law (Islamic laws) can prevail. The remainder of the world is Dar al-Harb, or the “house of war.” These are lands not under Muslim rule that need to be subdued.

Historically, Islam has seized non-Muslim lands through jihad—violent conquest. This was especially true in Mohammed’s day and for centuries after his death. But jihad can take another form where Muslims immigrate to a non-Muslim land, grow in population, and then progressively take control through political means. Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan ruler, echoed this sentiment in 2006 when he said, “There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe—without swords, without guns, without conquests. The 50 million Muslims of Europe will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades.” Census data today suggests this is what’s happening.

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